EFECTO TóXICO DEL IóN CADMIO SOBRE LA GLáNDULA SUBMANDIBULAR DE RATA ADULTA

the present study has the objective to investigate histometrically the toxic effects of cadmium ion exposition on the submandibular gland of adult rats. white male rats, weighing around 170 g, received, in the drinking trough, a solution of 300 mg cadmium chloride/l of water, during 6 months. another group of animals, after similar treatment, remained in recuperation during an additional period of 6 months. the parenchyma of the submandibular gland showed marked differences between intoxicated and control animals. the acini of the gland of the cd-intoxicated group were smaller, with irregular shape and degenerating cells. the nuclei varied in size but not in shape. striated, granulous and excretory ducts were disorganized showing smaller nuclei. the histologic picture of the gland in the 6 months recuperated rats was similar to that of the control. this result was confirmed by the histometrical study. based in the literature, the authors conclude that the methallothionein can act as a detoxicant agent by joining to cd, and its decreased synthesis rises the concentration of free cd, that causes damages to dna and inhibits the protein synthesis, as observed in the present study